Automatic apparatus for washing fabricated parts



Feb 23, 1960 E. uMBRlcH'r ETAL 2,925,614

AUTOMATIC APPARATUS FOR WASHING FABRICATED PARTS Filed April 25, 1956...r1/1A il? l Feb- 23, 1960 E. UMBRlcHT E T AL 2,925,614

AUTOMATIC APPARATUS FOR WASHING FABRICATED PARTS Filed April 25, 1956 4Sheets-Sheet 2 6025;, Hm? tdi/fm.

ATTORNEYS Feb. 23, 1960 E. uMBRlcHT ETAL AUTOMATIC APPARATUS FOR WASHINGFABRICATED PARTS Filed April 25, 195e 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 Feb. 23, 1960 E.UMBRlcHT ETAL 2,925,614

AUTOMATIC APPARATUS FOR WASHING FABRICATED PARTS Filed April 25, 1956 4Sheets-Sheet 4 United States Patent AUTOMATIC APPARATUS FOR WASHINGFABRICATED PARTS Emilk Umhricht, Jackson, Dewey M. Evans, Plymouth, andWillard L. Johnson, Royal Oak, Mieli., assigncrs to Ajem Laboratories,Inc., Livonia, Mich., a corpora tion of Michigan Application April 25,1956, Serial No. 580,528 17 Claims. (Cl. 15-21) The present inventionrelates to improved power washing apparatus adapted for use inindustrial applications for automatically handling and thoroughlycleaning the interiors and exteriors of various manufactured articles.This invention provides greatly increasedl efficiency and thoroughnessin cleaning fabricated parts or assemblies having long tubularpassages.- It enables a thorough removal of all traces of the soilmaterials which usually accumulate during the previous manufacturingoperations.

The illustrative embodiment of this invention described herein isparticularly well suited for use in the automotive industry and in otherheavy equipment mass-production industries wherein metal parts andhousings having a generally elongated and/or tubular configuration arefabricated.

The improved power washing apparatus specifically described in thisapplication is an automatic axle housing washing machine adapted forautomatically cleaning and handling the rear axle housings of automotivevehicles.

It is an object of the present invention to provide improved automaticpower washing apparatus for handling and cleaning fabricated parts andhousings having a generally elongated and/or tubular configuration. Itis an advantage of the present invention that it enables a manufacturerautomatically to obtain a thorough cleaning out and scrubbing of theinterior of such fabricated parts, and in particular of rear axlehousings, and the like, and assures a uniformly high quality in eachcornpleted assembly.

The rear axle housings in modern automotive equipment are customarilyformed with an enlarged central casing for enclosing the differential.Two long tubular shaped casings project out from either side of thedifferential housing for surrounding and protecting the axles which runfrom the differential out to the two rear wheels. In some automotivedesigns, the differential housing itself has a generally hemisphericalshape. In others, the differential housing has a generally drum shape,appearing somewhat like the sounding box of a banjo, and such housingsare often referred to as banjo housings. The illustrative embodiment ofthe present invention is very well suited for use in cleaning suchvarious types of rear axle housings as will be understood from thefollowing description.

In the fabrication of such various types of rear axle housings it iscommon practice to form them in two halves. A pair of seams run outalong opposite sides of, each of the tubular casings, and these seamspass around opposite sides of the differential housing itself. Thesetwohalves of the axle housing are welded together during fabrication toform the completed unit.

After the welding operation has been completed, it is necessary toremove the accumulated soil materials and foreign particles which haveaccumulated on the interior and outer surfaces of the axle housingduring chips and lings, various greases and cutting oils, andv sometimeseven coolant materials and the waxy lubricants used in stamping anddrawing are present. Dirt and dust particles adhere to these coatings.In addition, the welding operation itself usually causes deposits of thewelding flux and creates metal and oxide flakes that are more or lesstightly fused to the inner and outer surfaces of the axle housing innear the welded seams.

In the past these types of axle housings have usually been washed byhand. The use of kerosene or other inflammable solvents was commonpractice in an effort to reduce the amount of the various soil materialsclinging within the housings. This hand washing operation created acontinuing lire hazard. Moreover, hand washing even under the bestconditions, was a slow process and, in many cases, failed to remove muchof the soil material, resulting in d-amage to the differential and rearaxle bearings.

Common experience has shown that many different types of automotivevehicles, after they have been driven several thousand miles, begin todevelop a type of humming or grinding sound in the differential and rearaxle drive.` It has usually been assumed that this type of noise is anatural'result ofthe inevitable wear which must occur after a Vehiclehas been driven these distances. 'Recent tests have proven that much ofthis hum is caused by residues of materials that were present in theaxle housing at the time it was fabricated and not completely removed.Wide variations in temperature occur during operation of a vehicle overa period of several months. These temperature changes, combined with theaction of the lubricating oils, loosens the particles adhering withinthe rear axle housing and cause excessively rapid wear. when the rearaxle housings are thoroughly cleaned'out afterffabrication and the gearsand bearings assembled in them are similarly thoroughly cleaned, thenthe rear end drives operate over greatly extended periods withoutdeveloping such humming noises and that the total life of the drive ismarkedly'prolonged.

It is among the advantages of the present invention that it enables sucha thorough cleaning on a massproductionscale of the rear axle housingsof automotive vehicles that the life of the differential and rear axledrives are greatly extended in operation. These drives turn out to bemuch quieter in use over much longer periods of time. Moreover, theautomatic axle housing washing apparatus described herein removessubstantially all re hazard in operation. It enables a thoroughcleansing of the axle housing, both the differential section and the twotubular axle casings to be obtained with aqueous type washing solutionsincorporating non-ammable solvents. Substantially all of the hand laborformerly required is saved, while the total.

production of axle housings is greatly speeded up.

Another advantage of the apparatus described herein are those resultingfrom the fact that each individual axle housing is precisely advanced insequence from station to station through the apparatus. This movement ofthe axle housings is provided by transfer apparatus which accuratelypositions and holds each of the axle housings in each of the variousstations for optimum cleaning action. Advantageously, this transferapparatus enables the use of high speed scrubbing lbrushes which areinserted into the differential section and axle casing sections forthoroughly cleansing them all out. Included in the transfer mechanism isa pair of bifurcated arms which grip each axle housing on opposite sidesof the differential section so as to precisely align Patented Feb. 23,19(50Y Tests have shown thatk 'sagoaaem rlhe various aspects,l features,objects .andfadva-ntages of the present invention -will be ,more fully`understood.

rrotna consideration of thefollowing descriptionin conjunction-with-theaccompanying drawings, in which:A

Figure. lis aV top, view. of anV automatic rmachine for handlingandwashing the rear.axlefhousings-of'autof motive` vehicles, with portionsof the machine being shown as broken away in order tovillustrate Atheoperaf tion-amore clearly;

ligure'fZ is an yelevational view of the .machine vshown in Figure l;

Figure f3 "is fa` cross .A sectionalyiew taken through Athe machine of`Figures l and 2, generally alongjthe lines.

3-3` looking, -towar'd the right,:4 andshowing on .enlarged scale theoperation-Tof the transfer; mechanism;

Figure 4 vis a partial'perspective view of one of 'the scrubbing and`ushing carriages onoppositesides of 'the inachineof. Figure l-and beingshown on enlarged,

scale;

Figure v5 v is an, end View of ,the carriage` of'fFigure 4.

asseen looking from the lowerright' corner of the draw.-

ingjup'waxdly, toward ythe-leilaEasshown. by the arrows...

Figure 6 isa longitudinal sectional` view offthis carrlage as seen.taken generally along` the vline 6-6 in .Figure 5,` looking totheright;

Figure Tis a partial sectional" view of this ,carriagel as seentaken'alongthe linef7--7 vof Figure 5 looking toward the.. right; and

FigureS Lis'apartialperspective view of theltransfer` nlvhis'm. v p u4Referring in greater" detail'to Figuresl andf2 of the drawings, theoverall""operat`ion of 'the automatic axleA housing washing' machines'hownther'ein as an illustrativeernbodiment of the present 'inventionis as follows: Therear axle housingsl 9, illustrated by dashed outlines,come from the. as s'e'mbly'line vatthe left'as shown by the'arrow '10.4'Referring briefly to Figure; it is-.seen that these axle housings9eachinclude agenerallyhemisph'e'rical central diierential housing section 11and a pairof 'generall'yclongatedand tubular axle casing sectins'lzi'One'side of'thc diierential housingis machiuednas 'shown' at'1`3 inFigure 3, and has a large circular opening in it ('not shown) which issometimes c'ove'redby a"plate` bolted in place around its perimeter whentheaxle housing is installed. This opening is herein' called'the coverplate opening, and when the axle liou'sing's'are received fromVthe'assemblylineat-9, this at'cover plate surface is facing upwards.In'many vehiclesthe'surface 13 is secured to a housing instead of,acover plate,'a'nd .then the drive shaft or torque tube` extends intothe' differential' housing ll'through this hous ing which isse'cured tothe surface ,13.

v'Thesefaxle housingsf9a`re receivedoneat artime vby tlie.niachir"1e'`at 'a vfirst' stationr labelled A1 for reference.. They? 'are'picked upbya-pair' of bifurcatcdarms' 14'and 'which' straddle each of Y'thetubular axle Vcasings. 12,

on opposite sides of the' differential housing 11 and swing theaxlehousingup'and over, passing through'a' station B without stopping.Each unit is thus placed ina station C wit-h the cover plateopeningfacing downwardly. From station C/the 'axle housings are advancedalong three'railsbyfrneans o f 1a transfer mechanism. They passin'sequen'ce through a large number of stations labelled D'th'rough Zfor reference. In the initial'stations C'throughM' various washing andscrubbing operations' take-'place,"as' explained in detaillater. rlhenin stations rNMth'rough'P the washingfsolutions are' allowedl to drainout of the axle housings. In stations Q through X the axle housings arerinsed off by high pressure jets of aqueous solution including rustinhibiting compounds and then are dried off by blasts of hot airdirected onto the axle housings from suitablyy positioned groups of airnozzles. These are arrangedtofproduce the most effective action inblowing away., any-liquid from .the exterior and interor surfaces .offthe l:axleahousing and in evaporating any remaining traces of moisture.

In passingfromf station X lthrough'stationYftostation Z, the axlehousings farei automatically ipped'over again into their initialpositions with the cover plate 'opening facing upwardly in readiness tobe carriedalong'furtlier into the next' sectionofftheiassembly line.

ln station A, the axle housing being received slides toward the rightinto`theslots 'in' the bifurcated arms 14 and 15 projecting fromopposite ends of a cross frame 16: ri`his-frame islssupportedfateach-end by-aipairof shafts -18 `and 20 whichareunounted-.in-.torque-driveunits` 22- and 2'4, respectively,supportedupon uprights-,26.

' lnaddition tothe.bifurcatediarmssi Vand 15,--a-centra1 arm `2`8projects ,from-the trarne iti-and closely--overlies theI iiat coverYplate surface-'.13 inthe differential-housing. This :ar1n28 preventslheaxlehousingirom rotatingfn the slots ofthe arms.14.and .15.as it isswung up and over4 through station-.B and deposited nfstation-Cinf-inverted.; position. The torque units 22 and 24 may conveniently.beY hydraulic` torquel motors.. of 1 the... type, known' in: the

tradelas .single vane torque;motors` such fasaretauaable-z commerciallyfrom "The Bonnotv'Company of @Cantoni Ohio. "These are arrangedtogive`180" ofmovement and return. The hydraulic Tvalves.controlling thesetorque motors are operated by a suitable hydraulic'controlsys, temunderthe control of.solenoid-operatedvalves.t :A

master electric controlcircuit assures- 4the `proper-timingl of eachoperation. `Such acontrolsystem is :disclosed in vthe copendingapplication Serial .-No. 467,746,1led November 9, 1954, vled jointly inthe names of twoof the :present inventors, Emil Umbricht :and DeweyEvans.

-In order.'y to support the axle vhousings .as-they are moved through`the washing machine from station eto station, three tracks 30,62,andi-34 (see alsoz-Figure-3) extend the full'leng'th. of the machineand'constitute guide meansr for the movingwork. The outsidetrackst) -and34 conveniently project out at fthe. delivery end otthe,A machine instations Y and-Z.. Thesethreetracksaresupy.- ported .on suitably placed1 cross t-.beams 36,'and1-.includerespective wearing railsSS, 46 and 42ofthardenedsteel. extending 4,alongtheir upper faces. The centraltrack'SZ and its wearing rail 40. are adaptedY to engage-the---flatlcover plate' surface 13v-as the axle: housing moves .along the outertracks .to4 prevent its rolling over.

In .order togive an initial scrubbing and'. b'uingaction to the insideof"the differential housing,v 11 proper, the center'. guiderail 32 Visinterrupted in station D.l v5r-,large atplatef46serves-to prevent theyaxle housing -,from turning over. This ,plate 46 includes aY circularopening 48 slightly larger" than the cover plate opening in the axlehousing itself. And` below the opening 48 aligned with it is .positioned a hernispherical.brush` 50. Thisbrushlis.

'shown in ,Figure`2 in its raised, position. 'It isi'otated-by means of1.atotally enclosed electric vIrnotor@V 5 2 v'vhic'lri's mounted on' anelevatonplatorm V55 arranged 'toslide up` and downn apluralityof,vertical'guides-Sl., YA' hy. draulic c'ylinderV positionedbelow the`platform`-53, is arranged` to raise the Vbrushup through the opening 48so as to scrub' the interior of the differential housing portionY or'eachV axle housing in'successionas it reaches station D. The hydraulic.cylinder S76 is .controlled 'byg the master electriccircuitso as to moveup only when the' transfer mechanism is stationary andholdingthe-'axlehousing in'proper position over the hole'4`8.

"At this station D'" there area' number' of high pressuresprayfno'zzles'connected` throughY pipes `to'khi'gh pressure manifoldscsupplied-- 'with rwashing` solution-If from altI-nope'- clogginghigh..pressurefcentrifugalzpump. 60. The pump Acasing istotally immersedbelow-'the liquidievel' 62 -insa side tank 64. The pumpinelud'esfa'vertical4 drive shaft extending up through a housing 66Ywith a. pulley. at vthe top driven by a powerful -ele'ctric-.motor 68=through a V-belt Vdrive 70. This typetofrugged' `non-clogging pump isdisclosed in great detail'and'clamed'inthe copending 'applicationSerialk N o. 357`,4'50:fled-finthename of vEmil Umbricht, on May 26,`1.953.

The spray :nozzles used f aredesirably. ones:with bullet-,

shaped sprayi .formingV directors of. the vtype vdisclosed .and claimedin a copending application of Emil Umbricht, Serial No. 334,420, filedFebruary- .2, 1.953., `now .U .S. Patent No. Y2,778,685, issuedJanuaryZZ,V .1957.

Thus, the washing solution isispraye'd forcefully yonto the-.axlevhousing in station D. These jetsiof the-washing .liquid may also bedirected onto the rotatingbrush, `but satisfactory :cleaning is alsoaccomplished-with a: wire bristle brush operating dry. In this wayfthebrushiskept `'saturated .with washing `solutionsnnd thoroughlywcleansthe inside of the .ditferential casing. whenwitl'is .-raised. Moreover,itis 'to be noted -thatthe-fdiierential housing may .include a secondsmaller kopeningat 72 on theopposite side from the cover plate opening.This smaller opening isladapted to receive .the end ofthe-torque tubewhen the .axle housing is. installed. on ycertain. types of Avehicles.In. stationfD one ofthe washing. spray. jets,

which .can be seen in the backgroundat 74 in Figure 3 'mounted on yapipe 7.6 vis aimed. downwardly, and toward the leftso that thestreamjipasses into the housing 11' through the opening72.-and.maintains= the `brush 50 saturatedfwithwashing; solution while:it .rotates inV this .Y

AIn order toadvance the axle housings fromlstationltol station throughthe-machineand to hold them accurately* vpositioned each station, `animprovedY transfer vmecha nism. generally indicated at.80 in Figures 3.and l8 is utilized. This transfer lmechanism includes ajpair lofchannel-shaped runners 82.and 84 vextendingth'e..length of the machine.These runners areheldin'rigidly spaced-V relationship by a plurality ofangle-iron crossbra'ces, such as thexcros's braCe'SE-.inFigure- 8 whichis welded atv each. endf to the backsf(i.e.fopposed'surfaces)'of theywebs of the ArunnersZaunt'84. Theserunners andcross bracesadvantageouslyzform the main frame of` Ith'ei trans-V rproject vdownfrom .eaclro'f `,these kcross' beams,.:and1each carries: atlangedtapered"roller.94 and 496,r'espectively, vat its lower apex.Thesefrollersz project into the respective channel troughs oftherunners-{SZ and 84 and allow the, runners to ride back and forthlongitudinally in operation. Among the advantagesof this transfermechanism with the rollers projecting i-ntothe channel runners isA thatthey also resist upward: motion ofv the transfer fralne with respect tothebrackets 9.0 and.92. .'Ihus, .thepairs of forked dogs 98'and-100 'areenabledxto bear .down rmly .upon the` axle casing sections 12 as shownby the.solidline.,p0sition ofthese, dogs in Figure 3. VvIn this way theaxle housings are'gripped firmly when being moved from station tostation and are held securely and accurately in position vfor washingand scrubbing.

in each station when the transfer mechanism isstationary.

In order to reciprocate the channel runners 82 and 84 longitudinally across bar 102 is rigidly secured between them at the discharge end ofthe machine with a rigidly attached upstanding clevis drive arm 104. Theupper end of this drive arm is pinned between a clevis at the end of apiston rod 106 (see also Figures l and 2) which is reciprocated byahydraulic cylinder 103 having its base end secured to a cross member 110in the machine.

In operation of the transfer mechanism, the channel .l "the-,p-iston-rod:isr'swingably pinned toanother knee;

y 'flever 130 similarly securedv byacurved block 132;; Vshaft 112. y

.When the piston Vrod is; p ulled;-into thecylindenitroit-ates theshaftsZll-Z and 114.10 swing up-.thedogsinto nrunners82:and -84are-driven towardtheeintake-fendnof "the: machine. Then thisf movement`isffstoppedwwith .the

"the axle housings, the-channelrrunnersz and-Stare v drivenibyf thevcylinder 108 back toward kthe discharge end. yThetotahmcyvementof-r'the,.-frame of,fthe ..transfer mechanism is equal to the spacinghetfvs'fcen'v adjacent '.stations,rso `that .the axlehousings areeachadvanced to the nextstation. .Inithis f machinethespacing betweenl'stations :is advantageously Aarranged t'o Lbe; l'zinches.

To hold'thehousings squarely. in position, the transfer mechanism pauseswith the dogs held down, while the :next successive washing,scrubbing,'rinsingiyor-drying Yoperation takes place, .as the case maybe.' Tlhemthe dogs 98 and .100 :are swung-up, andthe. transfer, V frameiis returned toward the intake-end of thevmachine, andlpso forth.

In order .to actuate. the; dogsl 98 andv 100 two rotatable shafts 112-fandi k114 extend thelength of the, transfer frame. These shafts haya. adaimetr of4 21/2I-'inehes-and are journal'ed in v pairs 'of' bearings`116 andjlflf secured underneath-the cross; braces. 4.In a. machine-ofwe. nd 'that 'best performance is. obtained by -usingjat least.v eightcross braces '86 and atleast eight pairsA of bearings. 116and 1.18.'Near each endaof theseshafts is locatedahydraulic actuatingassembly.including a hyidraulic Vcylinderflm.` and piston, AThis machine -uses aheseeylinders econnected .by

swingablyr 'pinned to a .knee-shapedV lever .124 rigidly` -secured'toacylindrical mounting-block 126 which is keyed andbjolted to the shaft112. A clevis 128 onfthe vend 'of their disengaged dotted-linepositions, shown in Figure.

When thegpiston rod pushes out it swings the 'dogs down A to fa-nanglefof about 45 to thehorizontal.

Thev enga-ging tpositions of the dogs are controlled byadjustable.studsj134-which1ar struck by..the.k.nees1.24`

and 130,. ,-Asshoy f "infligni: these studs can.A befadu Ijustabiyscrewed; into step nests," .tss welded 01mm@ frunners- 82 and 8.4?andfheld imposition. byy lock 4:nuts asi illustrated. y,

.As can be seenlmost clearly in/EigureftlyV e dogs havesemi-circular-recessesand divergingA 138 to aid in slidingvdown into`straddlingposit-io axle casings.

vIt `is to-.be notedthat .the arms 14 and 15 are more 4closelyspacedthan the forked vdogs 98 and 100, and thus these dogs ycan-engage.the ends of the yaxle casings 12 `outside `of these arms. Then, whenthe -transfermechanism .moves to the right, .it slides the axle housingout 'of these arms .at positionV C. While the transfer mechanism ispausing in its discharge end position, the arms 1-4 .and 154 swing overand engage the next axle 'housing at A and. swing .it intoy position Cinreadinessfor the transfer mechanism.y For increased production rates,two pairs-of Varms 14 and lspaced 180 apart or four pairs -of these armsspaced 9.0 apart maybe used toadvantage on thecross frame 16. With suchmultiple pairof arms, the drive units122and24 always rotate the crossframe 16 inthe same direction, rp-ausingat stationC to unload from onepair .of arms while the diametrically opposite .pair of arms at stationA is` receiving another axle housing.

In order thoroughly ot wash, scrub out, 'andflu'shthe Lof the axlecasings I 7 axle housings, a number of nozzles are arranged in preciselypredeterminedrelationship with respect to the units when in stations E,yF,`G, and H. In station E a nozzle 140 similar to vthat shown at 74 isdirected up beside the center rail 32 to flush out theinside of thedifferential housing.

--similar coatings.

In station G a high pressure connection discharging a solid stream ofwashing liquid of large diameter is directed by a nozzle 146 into oneend of the axle housing. In station -H a similar stream is shot in by anozzle kForen enhanced cleaning action, stations I, l, and K and ushingcarriages, generally indicated at 150 and -'152. Referring to Figures 4,5, 6 and 7, it is seen that ,the carriage 152 is supported between apair of I-shaped tracks 154 and 156, which extend across the top of themachine and also support the other carriage'150. This carriage includesa rectangular chassis 158 having two sleeve bearings 160 projecting fromeach of its side frame members 162 near the corners. Tapered angedrollers 164 ride in the channel troughs between the inner'anges of thetracks 154 and 156 and support the carriage by means of stub shafts 166running in these sleeves 160. Down from this chassis is hung arectangular frame 170 having apair of upright members and a lowersupportA`plate 172 parallel with the tracks 30 and 34 in the machine.

Secured under the center of this support plate are a i pair of spacedbearings 174 and 176 with a rotatable shaft 178 journaled in them andprotecting in through a hole in the wall of the machine at station I andcarrying a rotating scrubbing brush 180 chucked in its inner end. Tomove the carriage, a hydraulic cylinder 182 is supported on a pair ofcross braces 183 secured to the tracks 154 and 156. It has a 2 inchdiameter and provides a total of 27 inches of travel for the carriage.Its

` cover lplate opening into the differential housing 11 at angles ofabout 30 with respect to the horizontal. These liquid jetsvare aimed sothat substantially all of the liquid passes into the inner ends of thetubes -12 which advantageously keeps each brush 180 saturated withliquid for most eifective cleaning. The impact of the liquid also helpsdislodge and dissolve the particlesand soil coatings.`

In order to rotate the scrubbing brush 180 a l horse power 1800 r.p.m.motor 188 is supported in the chassis 158 on an adjustable platform 190having one edge hinged at 191. The motor has a V-belt drive pulley 192of 4 inch pitch diameter driving a pulley 194 of 9 inch pitch diameteron the outer end of the shaft 178; Thus, the brush 180 is desirablyrotated at about 800 r.p.m`. Belt tension is adjusted by a clevis boltengaging a slot in the platform with a pair of lock nuts, asillustrated.

Projecting in from either end of the support plate 172 ,are a pair ofhollow flushing mandrels 196' and 198 which are aligned with the boresof the tubular axle casings in stations I and K, respectively. Theseflushing mandrels each .have an outside diameter slightly smaller thanthe inner diameter of the tubular casings 12 and `include conical jetdirectors 200 spaced out from their nozzle ends. Washing solution underhigh pressure is supplied to the outer ends of these ushing mandrelsfrom a manifold connected to the pump 60 through I are occupiedl by` apair of .identical movable scrubbing .tion Serial No. 467,746, rescribedabove.

,from a separate higher'pressure source.

llexible' hose connections (not shown). The high velocity spray passingby thezperimeter of this director strikes the .soil material with Yatangential impact action which is very effective in cleaning kthesetubular passages.

In station. L a high pressure jet of washing liquid is directed by anozzle 204 up into the interior of the differential housing for furtherdissolving` and ushing action. In stations L and M a pair of nozzles 205and 206, respectively, are aligned with the bores in the axle housingand produce anal washing and flushing action.

It is to be understood that the washing stations C through Mcontain-many nozzles directed downwardly and directed at angles inwardlyfrom the two sides of the machine so as to focus on the outside surfacesof the axle housings. They are mounted onpipes fed from high pressuremanifolds supplied from the pump 60. Their mounting arrangement on thepipes is generally similar to thearrangement describedin vthe copcndingapplica- A particularly desirable adjustable nozzle for this use isdescribed and claimed in the copending application Serial No. 462,726,tiled October 18, 1954 in the names of Umbricht and Evans.

form. y

Where an extremely high impingcmcnt force is desired for the nozzles140, 142, 144, 146, 148, 186, 204,

. 205, and 206 in stations E, F, G, H, I, L, and M, respectively, andthe mandrels 196 and 198, they are supplied Most conveniently this is ahigher pressure second stage` in the pump 60.. In this case the pumpincludes two impellers v and two outlets. One outlet supplies most ofthe nozzles while the second outlet at higher pressure supplies thoselisted above.

Inorder to'ip the axle housings back into their initial positions asthey move through station Y into station Z, the center track 32 isended. A` swingable ilip-over arm 208 is placed mid-way between thetracks 30 and 34. A projecting hook 210 on therupper end of this armcatches over the approaching edge of the differential housing near thecover plate surface 13. This arm is pivoted as it passes over the pivot.Thishook then pulls down 0n .the front edge of the surface 13 and ps theaxle housing over. A large weight at the lower endY of the arm 208swings it back to verticalfposition after each unit passes over.

The operation of the .rinseand dry section of this illustrativeembodiment of the present invention are not described in detail hereinfor these portions of the machine do not embody any aspects of thepresent invention, except for the transfermechanism which extendsthroughout-the full length of the machine and passes throughthe rinseand dry sections. This transfer mechanism is illustrated and describedin detail in connection with Figures l, 2, 3 and 8. The rinse section ofthis machine is generally similar to the Washing section, for itincludes suitably positioned nozzles fed under high pressure throughmanifolds and pipes with rinsing solution supplied from a second pumpidentical with the pump 60 and positioned in a side tank 202 adjacentthe right end of the side tank 64 in Figures l and 2. An understandingof the arrangement of th blower, air manifolds, and air noz- '.-zles inthe `drying section of `the machine will be understood from a review ofthe operation of the drying sections in the machines shown in thecope-nding applications Serial No. 462,726, tiled October. l8, l954andSerial No. 467,746, led November 9, 1954, both led jointly in the namesof two of the present inventors, Emil Umbricht and Dewey Evans. j

From the foregoing it will be understood that the embodiment of thepresent invention described above is well suited to provide theadvantages set forth, and since many possible embodiments may be made ofthe various features of this improved power washing apparatus, and asthe apparatus herein described may be varied in vario'us Thenozzle 74 isof this adjustable l9 parts, all without departing from the scope of theinvention, it is to be understood that all matter hereinbefore set forthor shown in the accompanying drawings is to be interpreted asillustrative and not in a limiting sense and that in certain instances,some of the features of the'invention may be used without acorresponding use of other features, or without departing from the scopeof the invention. i

What is claimed is:

l. Improved power washing apparatus adapted for automatically handlingand washing fabricated parts in sequence comprising a track runningthrough the apparatus for guiding parts thereon through the apparatus, aplurality of washing stations at uniformly spaced points along'saidtrack, a transfer mechanism having a rotatable shaft 'extending parallelto and spaced from said track, a plurality of arms secured to said shaftat uniformly'spaced points, the spacing between said arms being equal tothe spacing between said stations, said arms all lying in a commonplane, reciprocating drive mechanism coupled to said shaft andreciprocating said shaft longitudinally parallel with said track adistance substantially equal to the spacing between said arms, powerdriven rotating drive mechanism on said transfer mechanism-rotating saidarms into a first angular position to engage the parts on said trackwhen said shaft is moved in one direction to advance the parts alongsaid track by an amount equal to said distance between successivestations, and rotating said arms into a second angular position to clearthe parts on said track when said shaft kisreturned longitudinally inthe opposite direction to its'i'nitial position.

2. Improved power washng apparatus adapted for automatically handlingand washing fabricated parts having anelongated configuration comprisinga pair of spaced parallel railsrunning through the apparatus for guidingparts'arranged, transversely thereon through the apparasequence, atransfer mechanism having a pair of 'power driven rotatable shaftsextending parallel to and spaced from said rails, a plurality of armssecured to each ofsaid shafts at uniformly spaced corresponding points,`saidarms on each shaft all lying in a common plane, reciprocating drivemechanism coupled to said shafts and reciprocating said shafts insynchronism longitudinally parallel with said rails a distancesubstantially equal to the spacingbetween said arms, rotating drivemechanism rotating each of said arms into first angular-positions forrespective pairs of said arms to engage each of the parts on said railswhile said shafts are moved in one direction to advance the parts alongsaid rails an amount equal to said distance, and rotating said arms intosecond angular positions to clear the parts on said rails while saidshafts are returned in the opposite direction to their initial postions,and washing mechanism at spaced points along said rails, the distancebetween said spaced points being equal to the spacing between said armswhereby said parts are advanced stepby-step along said rails and washed.

A3. Improved power washing apparatus as claimed in claim 2 and whereinsaid fabricated-parts have a configuration such -as axle housings,- andthe like, said apparatus including loading mechanism having a pair ofspaced bifurcated arms adapted to receive opposite ends of said lpartstherein in an initial position, revolving drive means coupled to saidarms and swinging said arms about a pivot axis from said initialposition upwardly and over said axis and down toward said rails, a thirdarm in Asaid'loading mechanism engaging the center sections of saidparts to prevent their turning over while held in said bifurcated arms,and guide means between said rails to prevent said parts from turningover when unloaded from said arms and slid along said rails by saidtransfer mechanism.

. 4. Improved power washing apparatus adapted for automatically handlingand washing articles comprising a track running through the apparatusfor guiding the articles thereon through the apparatus, a transfermechanism having a rotatable shaft extending parallel to and spaced fromsaid track and being adapted to straddle a portion of said articleslying on said track, a plurality of forked dogs secured to said shaft atIuniformly spaced points, said forked dogs all lying in a common plane,reciprocating drive mechanism coupled to said shaft and reciprocatingsaid shaft longitudinally parallel with said track a distancesubstantially equal to the spacing betweenv said forked dogs, rotatingdrive mechanism on said transfer mechanism rotating said dogs down intoa first angular position straddling the respective articles spaced alongsaid track while said shaft is moved in one direction to advance thearticles along said track an amount equal to said distance, and rotatingsaid dogs into a second angular position to clear the parts on saidtrack when said shaft is returned in the opposite direction toward itsinitial position, and washing mechanism arranged along said track at aplurality of stations having a spacing equal to the spacing between saidforked dogs, whereby said articles are intermittently advanced insequence along said track. and washed.

5. Improved power washing apparatus as claimed in claim 4 and whereineach article has at least one elongated passage therein extendingtransversely to the direction of motion of said larticles along saidtrack, a rail extending perpendicularly to said track, a carriagemounted on said rail for longitudinal motion toward and away from saidtrack, a second rotatable shaft on said carriage and projecting towardthe passage in an article on said track at a predetermined position, abrush mounted on said second shaft, one of the forked dogs ofsaidtransfer mechanism holding each article in succession in saidpredetermined position, second rotating drive mechanism on said carriagecoupled to said second shaft for rotating said brush andsecondreciprocating dr-ive mechanism coupled to said carriagevfordriving said brush into the opening of an article in said position.

6. Improved power washing apparatus adapted for au- I tomaticallyhandling and washing fabricated parts comprising a pair of spacedparallel rails' running through the apparatus for guiding parts thereonthrough the apparatus, a transfer mechanism including a frame mounted insaid washing apparatus for longitudinal motion parallel with said railsand having a pair of rotatable shafts mounted thereon extending parallelto and spaced from said rails, a plurality of arms secured to saidshafts at uniformly spaced points, said arms all lying in a cornmonplane, reciprocating drive mechanism coupled to said frame andreciprocating said frame and said shafts longitudinally parallel withsaid rails a distance substantially equal to the spacing between saidarms, rotating drive mechanism on said frame rotating said arms into alirst angular position to engage the parts on said rails while saidframe is moved in one direction to advance the parts along said rails anamount equal to said disstance, and rotating said armsinto a secondangular position to clear the parts on said rails when said frame isreturned in the opposite direction to its initial position, and washingmechanismarranged near said rails at a plurality of spaced positionsspaced apart distances equal to the spacing between said arms, wherebysaid articles are advanced step-by-step through said apparatus andwashed. i

7. Improved power washing apparatus as claimed in claim 6 adapted forhandling rear axle housings,'and the like, said articles being spannedacross between said rails, and a third rail between said parallel railsadapted to engage the center section of said articles and preventingtheir turning over. f

8. Improved power washing apparatus as claimed in claim 6 adapted forhandling rear axle housings, and the like, said articles being spannedacross between said rails, a third rail between said parallel railsadapted to engagethefcenterironcnscf;said:farticlesfandpreventine. theirl rolling along; said @paralleig rails, `andya; turn-Over mechanismfforsaid-farticleszcomprising a pivoted-arnr adjacent to.an endl of saidv'raili and :between said; parallel rails -andhavingfathoolo omits` Upperlend Aadapted to.. engage'. the leading Vedge of the centerportionI ofsaid articles,s=and agpivot forY said Jeverfbelowy thexplaneuof saidparallelrails, whereby asrfeaelrfarticlevadvancesfibeyond .the end".LofssaidLthird rrailfit isfh'ooked` hy; said;A lever and -rolled over.

9. ImprovedL powerwashing-apparatus, adapted.' for automaticallyhandlingfand:` washing elongated articles: comprising Y guide meansextending; through the 'apparatus .for guidirrgsaid elongated. articlesthereomthroufgh the-:apparatus. withssaid` articles lying; generally.transversely-:to thedirection ofi motion -alongffsaid guide means, aitransfer-mechanism .f including; a frame; mounted; inf said'k washing:apparatusf for; -longitudinalrzmotion :parallel with the; directionkof: motion.l alonga saidgguidermeans; and shaving apair. of: rotatableshafts mountcldf thereon iandsalso Vextending, parallel Y. to r. said'directions-:of :motion andy being spaced aboverl saidI guide.I means; saplurality.. ofi forked dogs secured to each of saidshafts-tatispacedr-points;said' tvedogs "onz-eaclrshaft formingipairsfadaptedto; straddl'e` oppositeeendsi of; articles; `ongitiidinal drive;ymecha;V nisnrcoupled -to zsaidl frames-.axididrivinggtsaid frame: and'said; shafts longitudinallyparallel with.. saidedirection :of motion adistanceV suhstantiallyiequal rto the spacingi bef. tweenhsaid farms;frotating:drive-mechanismmnf said*l frame rotatingsaid; shaftsdntocorresponding; angular positions for .said dogsftostraddleoppositeaendsof .it-hef articles on saidfguideimeanswhiles'said framefis, movedinronet directionsto advance` thef-articles.-alongssaidguidefmeans, and.-rotati-ngsaid armsintossecond:corresponding angular positionswith-.;said@dggsz clearingethe :articles: ona said guideY means.Y whilesaid frame nandoI shafts sare: returned byesaid :longitudinal drivelmechanism mi the-ropposite di-v rection toward theirfinitialpositionandffwashing 'mechanism:.arranged.fneark saidu guide. means .atsa.: .pluralityof spaced positions 1 spaced A,apart :distances :equal:to the spacing; between. saldi-arms, whereby; said; articles. are-s2idvancedi stepfbystepl through.l saide-apparatusszandwashed.

. l0. lIrnprovedipower.` washingyapparatusxas:'claimed in claim. 9. :andincluding; azloading mechanism adapted: to turnltheifarticles 'overfaudloadethemifintosthezapparatus; saidf-loading mechanism.havi-ngsafpairofzaspacedzbifun catednarms; secured.: \to--a. rotatable;crossmembertextende ing- .transversely l to'fsaidfguide. .means near:its; intakefend andI being. rotatable about, its longitudinal axis; 1drive means rotating said. crossflmember'from an; initial position -withsaid: Abifurcated arms-.extending away1fr'om1said guidefwmeans fandadapted tozreceve Oppositeends of theselongated .articles therein -andfrotating ..said. cross member. into a .second position .with said-bifurcated1 arms extendingtoward 1 said gguide lmeans,v said arms beingspaced differently. fromthe spacinggbetween: respective sets.off.dogsonfsaid .shat's,-.the iirst d01g;o,n .eachgshaft straddlingfsthearticle.r in said-bifurcatiod armer when saidl crossmember.of,.the-.loadiugrmechaniamiis in said; secondnositionezandfemeninas itttherelromi f-wlxcn the transfer frameisgzdriven longitudinally.I

l 1. Y Improvedypowerrwashingsapparatns f asifclaimed .in claim'S-iVand-wherein eachfo saidfv shaftsincludes a lever arm at correspondingpoints, and a piston and cylinder mechanism betweensaid.shaitspivotally';secured.to each of;v saidlevers; for; rotatingsaiclrsghafts;` animation-limitingime'ans secured. to each of; saidshafts.

1.2. Improved fpower washingzapparatus- -as :claimedf inclaimll,and-whereinisaid motion limiting-means arrests said shafts withthe forked dogs-lonzbothzshaftsi projecting ,downwardlynat,Ycorrespondingangles Withrespect`- to the;V horizontal.

T13.vr improved power washing .apparatus Tadapted forautomatically,.handlingaandwashing.tabricatedfparts hay.

" said-...dogsi-:whreby said-:part as said supporting.andzguiding'mellarticles during". said fipauei each of the dogs on one shaftcorrespondingwiththose,

on the other shaft and forming respecti-v'vfe pairs tlierewitll, saiddogs-.on each-arm;alltlyingsin.;acommonpplane, reciprocating drivefmechanism coupled. said.-` shafts and reciprocating Y said :shafts-1in;Ysynchronlsm .longitudinally parallel with-said rails a.distancesubstanyllygequal.tov the spacingfbetweensaidfdogsprotatingdriveL mechauisrnrotating. respective pairs` of saiddogs. into .flint-.sanguin positions`:to Estraddler opposite. ends lof.the parts; lying"` transversely on 1said rails while saideshafftsu. are `-moi/.ed in; onetdirectionstofadiiance thegpartssalongrsaid rails izan amount. equal tovsaid fidistance;r wand rotating aiddpgs iniQssecondf-augularpositions-toeslaan thelatts 0.1.1 a'd rails whensaidshaftsfarereturnedlin.fthelopp itedirt-ci` tien;A to 's theirlinitial position, andwashn .mechanism-kat' spaced encima-salone. SaidVrailsfgonstitutin washingtions.spacc at@ intcrvalsfiequa t0dii-titaeinen alarga-said?railsandswashed@ A 114.--Imnro.ved powerwashing arrarawssadaniediiet automatically headlines-wwwmain luralilyr.- ticlestand: -for 'advancing irnsequence e rticlesrthrongh the -iapparatuscomprising tsnpporlin sa wd l:g|.1id =;,xrieansjrunningthrougli.iheappamtus-fcre diriefthegfeloneated articles throughthe apparatus withkthez-artiole onaail supporting and. guide I nean,s,.lsaidn supporting.. ank E guide means? hav-ing a;V plurality of washing;Stations l.uiit'ormly spaced therealong, faz-transter'mechanism:arranged il? advance said articles` along.- saidq: supporting aanduidejmeans aand f. arresting said@articlesV .andholfliigithemffofpredeterminedapcriods;ofi tirn archl off-.saidv .staiiQn,S, saidtransfer-mechanisnr inclwdingfanfelongatedzrotatable shaft e extending:Vgenerally :parallelx tov` and?. spaced;v from' Saidf Supporting and.-evidemment article4l advancing and. holdingrmeans securedftofisad.Shaft-.fat uniformly. spacedv points and;` allflvirigszin farcorn'meng-plarie-t andl havingnrstsurfacesadapted to push. the: articles@2110.88 :saidL-Supf porting: and pguidefmeans and havingwsecondsurfaces ahead; 2 of :said articles .1 restrainingffhem and= sur facesadapted: tobearfo Vaidaarticles andselainp them againstf saidsupporting; andHr guide.. meansy. reciprocating drive mechanism"coupled; to; saidshaft:.fand: reciprocating.; said shaft.longitudinally; parallel, with@ saiqsnpportingand.

guidermeans. a distance; substantiallyzequal:.to-the. distance betweerrstation,s,;` rotating sdrivemechanism-rotatingsaid shaftandlbringing'said article holding .anda-advancing means intoi a` firstangularfpositionlwith said respective-surf facesengaging-respective:.articles ,along saldasupporting` andpfguiding meanswhile sai '..shaftfis being moved inlone direction .to advancethmart'flsialllgfsad-lfailsall afllQPlli equal to saiddistance;said-freeiprocatingfdrivemechanism pausing-.at the'endcof-rastroke-@advancing linches;along and-.aid otatiaedrcivemeansholding:sidsurfaces Y. y

. holdiisad artislesaallgned with saidy stationsf. said: rotating?.drivet means ,--tliens'rotatf ing'saidadrancinggand:holding means-interasecond-.anguf lar fposition freef fof;the articles con.saidzsupportingzand guide; means when 'saidg shaft. is. returned.n}the,..oppos1t e .direction :toward itsinitial? position.-

15.1.. -In i apparatus .of f the .1 type .described.for.-autcrnatijcally washing." fabricated", parts-and including.. washing .meanssynchronously operativel @with parts L transferand guidezmeans, animproved -transferandguidemeanscom- `bination comprisingna;trackfalignedin a rectlhnear'direction for guiding parts placed thereon, a transfer.device including :a pair. offlspaced', powerdrivem vlftable par-,zallclfshsns-crtenslirssparallel-to `andi..Srama!ffiizi said engagementvwithv Said anemia track, a plurality of arms on each shaft secured tosaid shafts at uniformly spaced corresponding points on each shaft, saidarms on each shaft all being in a common plane, reciprocating driveapparatus connected to said shafts whereby said shafts are driven in alongitudinally reciprocating manner synchronous with the rotation ofsaid shafts so that said arms are in a first position depressed towardssaid track when the shafts are driven in one direction and said arms arerotated into a second and raised position away from said track when theshafts are driven in the return direction.

16. In apparatus of the type described for automatically washingfabricated parts and including washing means synchronously operativewith parts transfer and guide means, an improved transfer and guidemeans combination as described in claim 15 wherein said arms arebifurcated at their unattached ends.

17. In apparatus of the type described for automatically washingfabricated parts and including washing means synchronously operativewith parts transfer and guide means, `an improved transfer and guidemeans as described in claim 15 wherein said track includes a pair ofspaced rails.

References Cited in the le of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS1,904,608 Bettini Apr. 18, 1933 1,926,034 Camerota Sept. 13, 19332,108,227 Ladewig et al. Feb. 15, 1938 2,494,380 Ellig Jan. 10, 19502,636,201 Varga Apr. 28, 1953 2,642,179 Cross June 16, 1953 2,648,342Vani et al Aug. 1l, 1953 2,674,760 Finch Apr. 13, 1954 2,681,136 IpsenJune 15, 1954 2,698,624 Peters Jan. 4, 1955 2,754,534 Varga July 17,1956 2,815,127 Edgecombe Dec. 3, 1957

